I am a Director at Shadbolt Group, managing the day-to-day running of the Structural Engineering department.
What skills do you need to be good at your job?
Engineering at its core level is problem solving, to be good at it you need to be good with maths and physics and you need to be able to think outside of the box to come up with practical solutions.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight of my career so far was when I became a chartered engineer at my first attempt. When the email arrived that had told me I had passed I was over the moon! (It should be noted that to become chartered you must provide a portfolio, pass an interview and pass a seven-hour exam, so it’s no mean feat).
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I like and regularly play board games, although probably not the ones you’re thinking of. I like running, I recently ran a sub 4-hour marathon.
What’s your best advice for someone wanting to get into what you do?
Be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up – a mantra that works in this industry in particular. Working hard gets noticed, it can be and often is rewarded. It’s also a career where qualifications matter, do the ground work and you can take off, and then as they say the sky’s the limit.
What did you do before you joined Shadbolt Group?
I joined Shadbolt Consulting, as it was back then, straight after graduating from University and I have been here ever since. It’s been very interesting seeing the company evolve during this time and I’d like to think I’ve become and important part of the team we’ve built.